Typical You Typical Me

Typical You Typical Me
James A. Allen Jr.
PHI103: Informal Logic
Instructor: Peter Ingenhutt
May 14, 2012

Is stereotyping a major issue in society? Throughout my lifetime I have encountered several levels of stereotyping. In the early 1900’s racism played a huge part in our countries history ranging from; slavery, racial profiling, and discrimination. This paper shows stereotyping is common everywhere you look, and can become a serious issue depending what situation you as a person; (no matter your race, color, creed, or gender), are put in, and the long term and short term effects it has on people. On August 12, 2010 April Kemick from the University of Toronto wrote an article and posted it on internet in regards to the negative impact stereotyping has on people (Kemick 2010). The National Science Foundation conducted a research survey of how stereotyping mentally affects people in certain situations. “Past studies have shown that people perform poorly in situations where they feel they are being stereotyped” (Professor Michael Inzlicht 2010Journal of Personality and Social Psychology). Inzlicht put together a research team to carry out the test the end result was that there were negative effects on the people put in the situation of stereotyped or discriminated even long after the situation. ““Even after a person leaves a situation where they faced negative stereotypes, the effects of coping with that situation remain,” says Inzlicht. “People are more likely to be aggressive after they’ve faced prejudice in a given situation. They are more likely to exhibit a lack of self-control. They have trouble making good, rational decisions. And they are more likely to over-indulge on unhealthy foods” (April Kemick, University of Toronto 2010). In my lifetime I have been subject to all kinds of stereotyping and prejudice situations that impacted my life in a negative way. My first incident that happen with stereotyping was in 1998 after I was convicted of distributing, manufacturing and possession of c.d.s. (controlled dangerous substance). I went to the county jail for seven months and served probation. After I was out for about 5 months I was stereotyped attending an interview at a local restaurant. During the interview we went over my resume and comes to find out I was over qualified for the position of line cook. Although I was over qualified and the supervisor wanted to hire me the only thing that he frowned upon was me having a record. The application clearly stated there will not be any discrimination regards of the applicants criminal background except for sexual conduct and theft charges. My criminal record did not contain any charges in that aspect, and I had all the experience the job required. After leaving the interview I realized that I was a victim discrimination. After that I did not attempt to find another job for a year I felt as though my record was going to stop me getting work anywhere. The case seems plain now the effects of me not getting hired and not knowing what I could do to appeal the decision sent me back to prison. I ended up violating probation spending the remainder of my sentenced in prison. Another way I was discriminated against was in a religious debate about a year after the 9/11 tragedy. I am Muslim and I practice my way of life freely and openly; one day I was talking with another Muslim in a public restaurant about the Quran, and a customer aver heard us speaking Arabic. The customer immediately changed seats and commented about the 9/11 event and said, “I cannot believe you come out in public talking about a god that would let so many innocent people die.” I did not know how to respond to the comment and my friend almost got into a physical altercation with the guy. We ended getting kicked out of the restaurant and asked not to return or there will be trespassing charges pressed against us. I believe the whole scenario was prejudice, and we were barred form the place because we are Muslim. I asked a couple people about what they thought and they agreed saying that the restaurant was in favor of the guy; which started the initial argument. The third incident happened with my sister in her work place where she was discriminated against during promotion time at her job. My sister worked in the kitchen at local nursing home as a line server for two years and expected a promotion. The position called an increase in pay and more hours, and was between her and another male employee who only worked there for 6 months. The guy ended up getting the promotion over my sister because they said the position called for lifting up to 50lbs. She ended up getting fired because she started going to work late and calling out because she said they did not appreciate her work performance. She ended up calling the labor board and getting back pay because they thought as though it was discrimination as well, and the acting supervisor got investigated and suspended without pay for up to almost year. The investigation is ongoing because the corporate office has 0 tolerance on discrimination. This a similar incident that happens in the courtroom atmosphere when women are promoted to judge how discrimination and prejudice effects them in making decisions, and their work performance. “There is further evidence of discrimination in the courtroom setting. Over 70 percent of female attorneys surveyed reported that they had experienced gender bias in the courtroom (Defense Research Institute [DRI] Task Force on Women Who Try Cases). Even those women who reach the position of judge report consistent discrimination that induces them to change their bench manner (Beiner; Sintecho). One survey of federal judges found that 81 percent of female judges surveyed identified sex discrimination as a major problem in the legal profession, while zero percent of male judges acknowledged it as a problem (Beiner). Female judges have commented that they must “work harder” to command the respect of attorneys in their courtrooms (Sintecho). They report that male attorneys often “do not take them seriously” and “argue back contemptuously” (Sintecho). In kind, attorneys and litigants also report differences between female and male judges. In a 2008 survey, female judges were found to be less courteous and more biased on the basis of gender than male judges (Geary)”( Bias on the Bench, by Lynnette S. Noblitt(bio), Sara L. Zeigler(bio), Miranda N. Westbrook Volume 21, Number 2 (2011). In an abstract taken from the Annals of Internal Medicine which I think is a little discriminatory in itself,” In medicine the scenario is not encouraging. Female physicians earn 63 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make. Women are also poor negotiators when it comes to business of determining compensation or receiving well-deserved promotions. Although women 's poor negotiation skills undoubtedly account for part of the salary gap, substantial responsibility lies on men who are in charge of academic medical institutions across the U.S” Annals of Internal Medicine; 8/3/2004, Vol. 141 Issue 3, p238-W-50, 4p ) . In conclusion this paper shows stereotyping is common everywhere you look, and can become a serious issue depending what situation you as a person; (no matter your race, color, creed, or gender), are put in, and the long term and short term effects it has on people.

References http://web.ebscohost, Authors: Turner, Barbara J.1 Laine, Christine2 Annals of Internal Medicine; 8/3/2004, Vol. 141 Issue 3, p238-W-50, 4p http://muse.jhu.edu Bias on the Bench: Sex, Judges, and Mock Trial Simulations, Lynnette S. Noblitt(bio) Sara L. Zeigler(bio) Miranda N. Westbrook(bio) Volume 21, Number 2 (2011) http://www.usnews.com Stereotyping Has Lasting Negative Impact, By April Kemick, University of Toronto August 12, 2010

References: http://web.ebscohost, Authors: Turner, Barbara J.1 Laine, Christine2 Annals of Internal Medicine; 8/3/2004, Vol. 141 Issue 3, p238-W-50, 4p http://muse.jhu.edu Bias on the Bench: Sex, Judges, and Mock Trial Simulations, Lynnette S. Noblitt(bio) Sara L. Zeigler(bio) Miranda N. Westbrook(bio) Volume 21, Number 2 (2011) http://www.usnews.com Stereotyping Has Lasting Negative Impact, By April Kemick, University of Toronto August 12, 2010